AN- Thanks----- To Yami Girl- I'm glad you think it's interesting! I'll try to keep it so.

To Shirqueen- Thank you, and yes, I think I will keep going :-)

To FrogInACrystalPool (my OUTSTANDING friend)- Why thank you! Maybe I can make a career out of this, haha.

To Yukie-chan- Wow! That made me feel really good. And yeah, after this chapter, I'm going to start making them longer. Glad to have your input!

To JP- Awww thank you. Yes, I'm a girl, I lap up all flattery, haha. But thank you…..I love you so much ;-)

A Shadow Reborn- Chapter Three

TIME SKIP~~~~~~~~Seven Years Later--------------------------------------

"Try not to break anything this time, guys."

Shigure saw the fight coming way before it started, and he prepared himself for what looked to be a good show- Kyo seemed especially vexed at his rival today.

Keh. This time, baka. The spark in Kyo's eyes gleamed as bright as his fiery hair at the thought of finally being victorious. Kyo had spent months training, and as far as he was concerned, the only opponent worth beating was Yuki, the strongest martial arts student in the Sohma Family.

Shigure grinned and opened a bag of chips as he settled back to watch the daily squabble. Kyo crouched in his aggressive battle stance, grinning like a madman. Yuki stood, looking bored and at ease, with one hand in his pocket. Kyo sprang forward, a fisted hand outstretched. In one swift movement, as Yuki recognized the move, he dodged the other way, sending Kyo through the screened door- that let into Shigure's office room- behind him. Furious at himself for being so easily predicted, Kyo sprang back up and repositioned himself. He knew his speed had increased with training, so he ran towards Yuki, as if to tackle. But at the last second, he raised both hands, preparing to double-strike.

Yuki reacted. He had little to do but move slightly to the side and raise his right leg, straight and aligned in true martial form. The wind was knocked out of Kyo, who, having been caught unaware, now doubled over to his knees, cursing as he tried to regain his composure. He sensed Yuki from behind, looking down at him.

"Pin him, pin him!" chanted Shigure gleefully. But he quieted as he saw something…some emotion…pass across Yuki's face. It could not have been fear- Yuki had his opponent beaten. What on earth…..?

Kyo tensed and prepared himself for the blow, but instead Yuki took one knee, so he was level with his cousin.

"Looks like someone needs more training, baka neko." With that, and a quick look at Shigure, he walked composedly out of the room and upstairs.

Listening to Kyo display his colorful vocabulary as he straightened his dishelved clothes, Shigure sighed and sat down to begin mending his office's door. Well that wasn't any fun at all.

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Beaten again…Kuso! Kyo was sprawled in his favorite place-the roof, his hands behind his head, looking up at the sky. Obviously he did need more training if he was going to beat Yuki. But almost as humiliating as being beaten was being shown mercy. Yuki always blocked Kyo's moves, but he hardly ever used any of his counter attacks. Even then, something seemed to be holding him back.

Kyo had never liked Yuki, from the day he had first moved in with him and Shigure seven years ago. At first it was Yuki's shyness and reservation that irritated Kyo, but after Yuki started taking martial arts with him, Kyo found his cousin's newfound confidence even more vexing. Yuki had won the very first time Kyo challenged him, and had not lost since.

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Shigure downed his coffee as he sat down to his laptop. His editor would throw a wobbly if he didn't get a composition written soon, but sometimes it was hard for Shigure to concentrate on his work. So many darned distractions. Like the racket the birds were making outside. Stupid birds. Or the creaking outside the room as Kyo paced up and down the hall- no doubt still sulking over his loss… Stupid Kyo. Or the microwave beeping as Yuki heated up himself some lunch. Stupid- Are those my ramen noodles?! Shigure leaned back in his chair to get a clearer vision to the kitchen, before sitting back up again, with new determination. Enough was enough- he had to finish this composition for his editor. Reaching back, he pulled his office door closed, shutting out all unwanted diversions. The door looked pitiful, having been "repaired" by Shigure, after Kyo and Yuki's encounter. The screening had ripped even more in the process, and the paneling job looked like it could have been done by and eight- year- old. On the other hand, not many other parts of the house had survived after being involved in their fights.

They really do have interesting fighting styles, Shigure mused to himself. Well, Yuki in particular. Why is it he never uses any aggression? Shigure knew Yuki specialized in self-defense. Shortly after Ayame had sent Yuki to live with them, Hatori had suggested Yuki be taught self-defense. Ayame had wanted him to focus on attacks, but gave up when he saw how much Yuki hated seeing people hurt. Shigure laughed to himself, remembering how Yuki had cried after he had struck Kyo down for the first time, when he was twelve.

Ayame and Hatori never revealed why it was so important Yuki was trained to protect himself. They had not even explained why he was taken away from the Main House seven years ago. All Shigure knew was that Akito was very against both ideas…. For whatever reason.

'You've got mail!' rang his laptop. Shigure took a look at the file…. It was a desperate reminder from his editor. Darned distractions.

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"How's he doing, Hatori?"

"Fine, I think. Shigure hasn't mentioned anything odd. He still doesn't remember much about it, I don't think. But I'm worried. Sometimes, being traumatized at a young age…. Leads to sporadic memories of the event later in life."

"And?"

"Ayame, listen. Can you imagine the emotional toll that would take?"

"Crap."

"Exactly."

"But my brother's strong, you know. He hasn't lost to Kyo once. But I'm worried for another reason."

"You know Yuki's physical strength has nothing to do with it. Now, why else is it you're worried?"

"Hatori, Akito wants to see him."

"Crap."

"Exactly."

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Seven years he's been kept away……...Seven years…….They can't oppose me any longer…..

"DO THEY THINK THEY CAN KEEP HIM FROM ME FOREVER??!!"

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AN- I know…kind of a change of mood. I kind of wanted to establish things, after the time and location skip. But don't worry, there's plenty of MAJOR ANGST yet to come. I know this chapter wasn't as good, I promise the next one will be better! R/R anyways, please. I'm trying to decide whether or not to keep going.

~~~ SilverStarlight

PS- I'm considering a character death. Who do you guys want to go?